Panel 42e Row 72
by On Memorial Day we give tribute to those men and women who understand the price of freedom.
I am not going to argue for or against either of those wars in this article, but I will say that if I lived in a country whose citizens were under an extremely oppressive government, I would be overjoyed for the U.S. to extend its muscle for the sake of bringing others to freedom.
The soldier who dies in service, whether it is while defending his own soil or trying to free others who are suffering under a tyrannical government, has performed the most noble deed. He has given his life so that others may have hope, so that others may have freedom.
At the Viet Nam Memorial, the wall lists the names of those soldiers who died in the conflict. My second cousin — my mother’s cousin’s son — is listed on Panel 42E Row 72.
Walking along the Viet Nam Memorial, there was a short span of time during which I was oblivious to the mass of humanity around me. All I saw was jungle foliage; all I heard was the barrage of bullets and missiles all around me; and at first, all I felt was pain and sadness for all those who died.
Then I opened my eyes. I saw a man who may have been my age, touching a name etched in the wall, the name of a fallen soldier. I saw an old man leaning against the wall, crying; I saw an elderly woman kneeling in prayer in front of another panel.
And then I saw a little boy standing nearby, holding a balloon and laughing. He may have been four years old, perhaps five, and he was totally unaware of the meaning of everything the wall represents.
In a very real sense, that’s the way it should be. The men and women who sacrificed their lives for their country died so that others may have freedom, so that others may live a life without fear of tyranny.
We should never forget the heroic and selfless actions of others; we should also be grateful for, and enjoy, the life that their ultimate sacrifice has provided for us.
Cousin Johnny, thank you. To all the men and women listed on the Viet Nam Memorial, thank you. And to all those men and women represented by all the war memorials in DC, thank you.
We will never forget.
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Post Commentchris73
On May 21, 2009 at 1:55 am
Before some months i traveled in Normandy and lucky me i spent many days there. One sunday i visited two cemetaries. First i visited La Cambe, the greater German cemetary. A small place for 21222 soldiers i have to say, some of them were even 16 years old. Silence all around, no visible guards, and a place nearby deticated to peace with photos and actions from organizations etc. That peaceful place put me into an internal journey and made me think and feel. After that i drove to Omaha beach where is an American cemetary and memeorial. 9387 soldiers there and at least 3 times larger than the German. Among others something like a small Lincoln Memorial, water, sculptures, flags too many things and symbols around that distructed me. This is not a fiesta, this is a place where each visitor have to look deeper. After i walked along the place, i tried to ender the information kiosk. Surprize! Guards all around in a small building and if you wanted to enter you had to pass through these machines like in the airports. I realy pissed! I said loud enough so every guard in there could clearly hear “i am not a criminal!” and i left. They destroied my feeling all that stupid precautions. And my friend if i had a bomb on me i could easily use it around cause noone checked me as i was wandering around. But this until i tried to ender that stupid building. Tell me it is a fiesta or something more and stronger such places?
Karen Gross
On May 21, 2009 at 9:36 pm
A very moving tribute to those who made the sacrifice.
Mystical Whitewolf
On May 24, 2009 at 7:04 am
Great tribute to the men and women who fight and have died for our freedom. Well done my friend.
The Quail
On May 24, 2009 at 7:04 am
A very moving tribute to those who made the sacrifice.
Alina Beck
On May 24, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Nice work – it does us good to stop and think and be thankful for the freedoms we have that so many have made such sacrifices to secure.
nenen
On May 25, 2009 at 2:17 pm
it’s really good to give tribute those men who fight for the freedom of their countries.
Betty Carew
On May 27, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Wonderful tirbute for those we can never repay, wonder write and read nutuba
Brian Daniel Stankich
On June 5, 2009 at 5:56 pm
For the first time in a long time we went to a memorial service on Memorial Day. It was so moving, and taught our kids more about respect, history, and sacrifice. Brian